How Using ARL Statistics Helped Get
Us More Money!
Steve Hiller
University of Washington Libraries
June 25, 2010
University of Washington Operating
Revenues $2.5 Billion in 2009-10 (excluding hospital patients)
Other
10%%
Core education budget
$700 million
Libraries represent
3.0 to 3.5%
Investment/Gifts
10%
Research Grants
48%
State funding 15%
Tuition
17%
University of Washington Budget Process
2010-11
• Legislature cut UW budget by $20.6 million dollar (6.3%)
after $80 million dollar appropriation reduction (25%) for
2009-10
• Undergraduate resident tuition increased by 14%
• All UW units given a 5% cut
• Units submitted short reports on impact of 2009-10 budget
and plans for 2010-11; met separately with Provost to
discuss
• University allocated new tuition dollars for first time using
Activity-Based Budgeting (ABB) to mitigate 5% cut
UW Libraries Budget Scenario
$3.6 million reduction (12%) in 2009-10
5% Budget Cut in 2010-11. If 5% taken in all library
budgets impact is:
• Operations
$35K
• Library Materials
$575K
• Personnel
$745K
• Total
$1.355 million
Facing a $5 million reduction in 2009-11 biennium
Core education budget $700 million; library 3%
Libraries Budget Meeting
• Budget impacts document submitted March 1
• Hearing with Provost and staff on April 1
• Key messages:
– FY10 cuts impacts came after a period where we lost
ground to “competitor institutions” – we’ve hit bedrock
– Information resources budget under real stress which leads
to a weakened research infrastructure and competitiveness
– Increased use of the Libraries services and resources
(onsite and online)
ARL Data Used to Show UW Lagging
Behind Peers and Falling Fast
• Used ARL Statistics
• Median of top quartile used (where we have traditionally ranked)
• Period covered is from 2003-04 through 2008-09
– “Good” funding years; no changes in ARL membership
• Expenditures are shown as annual averages of two year
totals to minimize year to year changes and UW biennial
spending pattern
• 2009-10 budget comparisons with 2008-09 final budget
made with results from ARL special survey in Autumn 2009
Total Library Expenditures UW Seattle & ARL
Median Top Quartile: 2003-05 to 2007-09 (Annual Average)
Monograph and Serial Expenditures UW Seattle & ARL
Median Top Quartile: 2003-05 to 2007-09 (Annual Average)
Base Budget Changes in ARL Libraries:
2009-10 Compared to 2008-09
10%
74 ARL Libraries responding. Each dot represents one
library.
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
UW – $3.6 million reduction
-15%
-20%
-25%
Acquisitions Budget Changes in ARL Libraries:
2009-10 Compared to 2008-09
10%
73 ARL Libraries responding. Each dot represents one
library.
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
UW - $1.5 million cut
-15%
-20%
-25%
Personnel Budget Changes in ARL Libraries:
2009-10 Compared to 2008-09
10%
63 ARL Libraries responding. Each dot represents one
library.
5%
0%
-5%
-10%
UW – 29 positions lost
-15%
The Result?
2010-2011 UW Libraries Budget
• 5% institutional reduction ($1.353 million for Libraries)
• Mitigated by $1 million in “Provost reinvestment
funds” (total of 1.3% cut)
• Libraries received highest amount of reinvestment
money of any University unit (25% of total
reinvestment funds)
• Some additional indirect cost recovery funds still
anticipated
Was it all due to ARL statistics? Well, perhaps not all!